A Run Through Time

This race is pukka. If your favorite race is the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon, you probably don't want to do this race. This race won't have big crowds, bands, people dressed like guitars, wave starts, or finisher medals. This race can't even promise good weather. Instead, this race offers a challenging but outstanding trail running experience. The volunteers are nice and everybody seemed to have a great time. I know I did! Plus, the relatively low entry fee goes toward a local running club, not some for-profit race planning organization. Don't change RTT. I am glad to have my money go towards your club rather than a finisher's medal.

The course was very mountainous (several thousand feet of elevation gain and loss), much of it was on trails, and the rest was on back roads (very nice). Beautiful mountain scenery all around. There was a lot of mud and snow, which is to be expected in the Colorado mountains in March. The terrain in the latter off-road half of the marathon was very rough making the hardest marathon miles especially difficult. If I had to come up with a negative point it would be that the last aid station before the remaining 9 miles was mostly depleted by the time I got there, but that was not an issue. All around, a great marathon for those runners who are gluttons for mountain punishment. Not a race at which to get a Boston qualifying time.

I ran this race with my daughter. We wanted a tough course, at altitude, and got one. The fact that we waded through three feet of snow at times only added to the experience. Before the race, there was a lot of talk about changing the course. Now that I finished, I'm glad they didn't, but wouldn't have said so at mile 20. If you want a challenging marathon, this is it. What is lacks in spectators, it makes up for in scenery. The aid stations were well stocked; however, there is no aid past mile 17. I wore my running shoes, but would have been better off in trail runners. You want something with better grip. Assume you are going to fall at least once during the race. Be prepared for cold (temperature was around freezing for most of the race), and, if it's sunny, snow blindness. Wear good sunglasses and sunscreen.